How container drayage works in Minot
The Minot Intermodal Facility, open since 2020, lets North Dakota farmers export crops in containers by rail. Trainloads of empties arrive on BNSF, get loaded at farms and elevators, and go back to West Coast ports for Asia.
- Terminal
- Minot Intermodal Facility, Logistics Park North Dakota
- Operator
- Rail Modal Group with BNSF
- Main cargo
- Grain, pulses and other crop exports
- Ports
- Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland
More about drayage in Minot
The Minot Intermodal Facility is a 136-acre terminal with more than three miles of track, anchoring the 800-acre Logistics Park North Dakota on the east side of Minot. Rail Modal Group operates the terminal in cooperation with BNSF Railway, and the first shipping containers arrived in October 2020.
The facility focuses on agricultural exports. Ocean carriers send trainloads of empty containers to Minot, where they are loaded with crops and returned by rail to ports such as Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland for export to Asia and other markets. In October 2025, Rail Modal Group marked its 1,000th train across its terminals in Minot, Amarillo and Fremont, Nebraska.
Local drayage carriers move empties from the terminal to farms, elevators and processors across Ward, McHenry, Mountrail and nearby counties, and bring loaded containers back to the facility.
1
Rail ramp
Railroads
BNSF · CPKC
Main highways
US-2 · US-52 · US-83 · ND-23
Container terminals and rail ramps in Minot
Where containers are picked up and returned in the Minot area.
Rail ramp
Minot Intermodal Facility
Rail ramp · Rail Modal Group / BNSF
136-acre terminal in Logistics Park North Dakota on Minot's east side; first containers arrived October 2020. Focus on agricultural exports.
Crops and exports from the Northern Plains
North Dakota grows wheat, durum, soybeans, canola, pulses such as peas and lentils, and other specialty crops. Many of these are exported in containers to buyers in Asia, where container shipping offers flexibility and smaller lot sizes than bulk.
Before the Minot facility opened, exporters had to truck their products long distances to ramps in other states. The terminal reduces those trips and makes North Dakota crops more competitive. Container loading often happens at elevators and processing plants, and drayage carriers coordinate empty delivery and loaded pickup to match train schedules.
Winter and rural operations
North Dakota winters are harsh, with extreme cold, blowing snow and blizzards. Carriers need winter equipment and plan around storms that can close roads. Spring brings seasonal load restrictions on many rural roads as frost leaves the ground. Heavy loads may need alternate routes during these periods. Distances in rural North Dakota are long, so carriers plan routes carefully to make the most of driver hours.
Routes and regional connections
US Highways 2, 52 and 83 meet in Minot, connecting it with Williston, Grand Forks, Bismarck and the Canadian border. The city is also near Minot Air Force Base. The oil and gas industry in the Bakken region west of Minot generates freight, though most of it moves by truck rather than containers. Minot's intermodal facility is one of three Rail Modal Group terminals with BNSF, along with Fremont, Nebraska, and Amarillo, Texas.
Why North Dakota waited decades for container service
North Dakota shippers pushed for an intermodal terminal for more than twenty years. Without one, farmers and processors had to truck containers to Minnesota, Montana or even farther, which added cost and limited their ability to compete in Asian markets that prefer containerized grain and specialty crops.
Logistics Park North Dakota and the Minot Intermodal Facility were developed through cooperation between local economic development leaders, the state, BNSF and Rail Modal Group. When the first containers arrived in October 2020, it marked a major milestone for the state's agricultural economy.
Since then, the terminal has handled hundreds of trains, and Rail Modal Group celebrated its 1,000th train across its three terminals in October 2025. The growth shows how much pent-up demand existed for container service on the Northern Plains.
Common lanes out of Minot
Approximate one-way highway miles for the runs local carriers quote most often.
Velva / McHenry County
Farms and elevators east of Minot.
25 mi
Bismarck
State capital via US-83.
110 mi
Williston
Bakken region via US-2.
125 mi
Grand Forks
Eastern North Dakota via US-2.
210 mi
Fargo
Red River Valley via US-52 and I-94.
240 mi
Booking drayage in Minot: what to know
Local habits that change the price and timing of a move in Minot. Mention them when you ask for a quote.
Coordinate with train schedules
Loaded containers must be back before train departure. Plan loading and drayage around the schedule.
Book empties ahead of harvest
Demand for containers peaks after harvest. Reserve equipment early.
Prepare for winter
Blizzards can close roads. Build in flexibility from November to March.
Check spring load limits
Seasonal weight restrictions apply on rural roads. Confirm routes for heavy loads.
Drayage markets near Minot
Many carriers that serve Minot also run these nearby ports and rail ramps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about container drayage in Minot, ND.